Mohd Hasim, M. J., Hashim, N. H., & Mustafa, H. (2023). Married life: Measuring adult romantic attachment and satisfaction. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 12(3), 119–131. https://doi.org/10.1037/cfp0000188
Key Points
- The study examined the romantic attachment styles among married individuals in Malaysia and the link between attachment and marital satisfaction.
- The majority of respondents (61.25%) were categorized under secure attachment style, followed by dismissive (15.25%), fearful (12.75%), and preoccupied (10.75%).
- Respondents with secure attachment styles reported the highest levels of marital satisfaction compared to those with preoccupied, dismissive, and fearful attachment styles.
- The study provides useful insights to assist counselors in helping problematic married couples by identifying attachment styles and promoting secure attachment.
- Attachment theory is an important framework for understanding romantic relationships and marital satisfaction across cultures.
Rationale
Attachment theory, originally focused on the relationship between infants and caregivers, has been extended to understand adult romantic relationships (Hazan & Shaver, 1987).
While research on attachment styles and marital satisfaction has been conducted in Western cultures, there is a lack of studies examining these concepts in non-Western contexts like Malaysia (Sümer & Güngör, 1999).
Cultural beliefs and norms may influence attachment patterns and relationship dynamics differently across societies (Rothbaum et al., 2000; Wang & Mallinckrodt, 2006).
This study addresses the need for cross-cultural research on adult romantic attachment by investigating the prevalence of different attachment styles and their association with marital satisfaction among married individuals in Malaysia.
The findings contribute to expanding attachment theory beyond Western contexts and inform counseling practices for enhancing marital relationships in diverse cultural settings.
Method
The study employed a quantitative survey design using self-report questionnaires.
Respondents completed the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory (ECR) to assess their attachment styles with their spouse and the Relational Assessment Scale (RAS) to measure marital satisfaction.
The sample consisted of 400 married individuals in Penang, Malaysia, with equal representation across gender, ethnicity (Chinese, Malay, Indian), and four stages of family life cycle.
Measures
- ECR: 36-item scale measuring attachment-related anxiety and avoidance dimensions. Reduced to 8 anxiety items and 3 avoidance items after reliability analysis.
- RAS: 7-item scale assessing level of marital satisfaction.
Statistical measures
- K-means cluster analysis to categorize respondents into four attachment styles.
- ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests to compare marital satisfaction across attachment styles.
Results
The study found that the majority of respondents had secure attachment (61.25%), followed by dismissive (15.25%), fearful (12.75%), and preoccupied (10.75%) styles.
ANOVA results indicated significant differences in marital satisfaction across attachment styles, with secure individuals reporting the highest satisfaction levels compared to the insecure styles.
Insight
This study provides valuable insights into the prevalence of different attachment styles and their relationship with marital satisfaction in the Malaysian context.
The findings highlight the importance of secure attachment for maintaining satisfying marriages and suggest that cultural factors may influence the distribution of attachment patterns.
People with secure attachment styles are able to have affection and trust towards their partners and are comfortable with both autonomy and dependency.
As a result, they approach their relationships with realistic expectations (Farinelli & Guerrero, 2011) and experience complete satisfaction and long-lasting partnerships (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2003).
The positive traits associated with secure attachment enable these individuals to communicate openly, handle arguments effectively, and address marital problems constructively (Pistole & Arricale, 2003).
The study found that attachment styles among Malaysian couples are influenced by their collectivistic culture, which values compromising, indirect communication, and avoidance tactics to maintain harmonious relationships.
Most respondents had a secure attachment, followed by dismissive and preoccupied styles, due to cultural norms that prioritize others’ needs over personal desires and discourage negative emotions.
The distribution of attachment styles differed from Western cultures, highlighting the role of culture in shaping romantic attachment.
However, the association between attachment styles and marital satisfaction was not culturally based, with secure attachment linked to higher satisfaction levels across cultures.
The findings align with previous research showing cultural variations in attachment patterns but universal benefits of secure attachment for relationship quality.
Future studies could explore the specific cultural beliefs and practices that shape attachment styles and relationship dynamics in Malaysia and other Asian societies.
Strengths
- Equal representation of gender, ethnicity, and family life cycle stages in the sample.
- Use of well-established measures (ECR and RAS) to assess attachment and marital satisfaction.
- Application of appropriate statistical analyses to categorize attachment styles and compare satisfaction levels.
Limitations
- The study was limited to married individuals in Penang, Malaysia, which may not be representative of the entire Malaysian population or other Asian countries.
- The use of self-report questionnaires may be subject to response biases.
- The cross-sectional design precludes causal inferences about the relationship between attachment styles and marital satisfaction.
Clinical Implications
The findings have significant implications for counseling and therapy practices aimed at enhancing marital relationships in Malaysia.
By identifying clients’ attachment styles using the ECR, counselors can tailor interventions to promote secure attachment and improve marital satisfaction.
The study also highlights the need for culturally sensitive approaches that consider the unique beliefs and norms shaping romantic relationships in different societies.
Furthermore, the research underscores the universal relevance of attachment theory in understanding adult love and intimacy across diverse contexts.
References
Primary reference
Mohd Hasim, M. J., Hashim, N. H., & Mustafa, H. (2023). Married life: Measuring adult romantic attachment and satisfaction. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 12(3), 119 131. https://doi.org/10.1037/cfp0000188
Other references
Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(3), 511-524. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.52.3.511
Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2003). The attachment behavioral system in adulthood: Activation,
psychodynamics and interpersonal Process. In M. P. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 35, pp. 53–152). Academic Press.
Pistole, M. C., & Arricale, F. (2003). Understanding attachment: Beliefs about conflict. Journal of Counseling and Development, 81, 318–328.
Rothbaum, F., Weisz, J., Pott, M., Miyake, K., & Morelli, G. (2000). Attachment and culture: Security in the United States and Japan. American Psychologist, 55(10), 1093-1104. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.10.1093
Sümer, N., & Güngör, D. (1999). Psychometric evaluation of adult attachment measures in Turkish samples and across-cultural comparison. Turkish Journal of Psychology, 14, 71-109.
Wang, C. D., & Mallinckrodt, B. S. (2006). Differences between Taiwanese and U.S. cultural beliefs about ideal adult attachment. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(2), 192-204. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.53.2.192
Keep Learning
- How might cultural values and practices in Malaysia influence the development of different attachment styles in romantic relationships compared to Western cultures?
- What are some specific interventions or techniques that counselors could use to promote secure attachment and improve marital satisfaction among clients with insecure attachment styles?
- How could future research expand on this study to further investigate the relationship between attachment styles and marital satisfaction in other Asian countries or across different cultural groups within Malaysia?
- In what ways might the findings of this study be applicable to understanding and enhancing romantic relationships in Western contexts, despite potential cultural differences in attachment patterns and relationship dynamics?
